Tigers 143 runs away from history at stumps on Day 4

Bad light and then rain brought an early end to the proceedings of the fourth day as Bangladesh reached 42-0 in seven overs at stumps, needing 143 runs on the final day to win the second Test against Pakistan and complete a historic 2-0 series win at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Zakir Hassan remained unbeaten on 31 off just 23 balls while Shadman Islam is batting on nine at the other end. 

Earlier, the Bangladesh pacers dictated terms on Day 4 with Hasan Mahmud taking three wickets to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests while Nahid Rana took four on the day to finish with career-best 4-44.

For Pakistan, Salman Agha made an unbeaten 47 and Mohammad Rizwan made 43 in an otherwise sorry batting display from the hosts.

The Bangladesh openers were hardly troubled by the Pakistani bowlers in the early exchanges, with Zakir taking the attack to the bowlers from the start, hitting a couple of fours and sixes each.

After playing out six overs before Tea, the duo could bat just one over in the third session before bad light stopped play and rain followed soon after.

More rain is on the cards on the fifth day, where Bangladesh would be hoping to make history while Pakistan would be desperate to avoid embarrassment.
 

Bad light stopped play

Bad light stopped play on the final session on Day 4 after just one over, with Bangladesh on 42-0, chasing 185 to win the second and final Test against Pakistan and win the two-Test series 2-0 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

Openers Zakir Hassan and Shadman Islam were unbeaten on 31 and nine respectively and have looked largely untroubled by the Pakistan bowlers in the seven overs they have faced so far.

The Tigers need another 143 runs to win. However, with dark clouds around and the groundsmen pre-emptively covering the outfield, the chances of play resuming today look slim.

Bangladesh 37-0 at Tea

Zakir Hasan reached 27 off 21 balls while Shadman Islam made eight off 15 as Bangladesh reached 37-0 at Tea, chasing 185, on the penultimate day of the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

Earlier in the session, Hasan Mahmud completed his maiden five-wicket haul while Nahid Rana claimed 4-44 as Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan for 172 in the second innings.

The Tigers are 148 runs away from winning the Test with four sessions to go.

Bangladesh are leading the two-Test series 1-0. A win or a draw would earn the visitors their maiden Test series win over Pakistan.

Hasan takes 5, Nahid 4, Pakistan all out for 172

Hasan Mahmood and Nahid Rana decimated Pakistan on the fourth day of the second and final Test as the hosts were bowled out for 172, setting up a 185-run target for Bangladesh to win the second and final Test and take the series 2-0 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

Hasan claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with 5-43. while Nahid claimed 4-.44.

Taskin Ahmed claimed the other wicket to fall meaning Bangladesh's pace trio took all 10 Pakistan wickets in the second innings.

The ninth wicket fell when Abrar Ahmed (two), who had been peppered with short pitch deliveries by Rana, fended at a short of a length delivery from the backfoot only to edge it straight to Najmul Hossain Shanto at first slip.

Salman Agha then added 27 runs for the final wicket with Mir Hamza before Hasan brought an end to the innings by getting the latter caught behind.

Earlier in the day, Nahid struck thrice in the morning session to reduce Pakistan to 117-6 at Lunch.

Mohammad Rizwan and Salman then put together a 55-run stand for the seventh wicket. Hasan, who had taken two wickets the previous day, dismissed Rizwan for 43 and removed Mohammad Ali for a golden duck the very next ball to leave Pakistan eight down.

Salman then carried on his lone vigil for a few more overs and remained unbeaten on 47 to take the lead above 180.

The batters now have a golden opportunity to earn Bangladesh their maiden Test series win over Pakistan with over four session still left in the match.

Hasan double strike leaves Pakistan eight down

Hasan Mahmud struck twice in successive deliveries soon after the Lunch interval, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan on 43 and Mohmmad Ali for a duck, as Bangladesh are now two wickets away from bundling out Pakistan in the second session on the penultimate day of the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

Pakistan have reached 136-8, leading by 148, with over one-and-a-half days left in the game.

Rizwan, who was dropped on 0, was gradually taking Pakistan to a decent total and had formed a 55-run stand with Salman Agha. Hasan, in his first over after Lunch, ended his resistance with an outswinger that took a thick outside edge and went into the gloves of Liton Das.

In the very next ball, Mohammad Ali was bested by another outswinger, which took an outside edge and went into the hands of Najmul Hossain Shanto at first slip.

As he took those wickets in the last two deliveries of his over, he had to wait till his next over to bowl his hat-trick ball, which was fended away by Salman, who is batting on 18 alongside Abrar Ahmed.

Rampant Rana puts Bangladesh in command at Lunch

Nahid Rana's triple strike and Taskin Ahmed's lone wicket have put Bangladesh in the commanding position against Pakistan as the hosts have reached 117-6 at Lunch on Day 4 of the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today. 

Bangladesh had to wait a while before their first success of the day as Pakistan batters Saim Ayub and Shan Masood began the proceedings on a positive note for the hosts after they resumed their second innings on an overnight score of 9-2.

Taskin broke through by removing Saim for 20, getting him caught at mid-off by Shanto. Nahid then joined the attack and rattled the Pakistan batters with his pace and bounce, striking in each of his first three overs, dismissing Shan (28), Babar Azam (11) and Saud Shakeel (two).

He almost had Mohammad Rizwan out for a golden duck but Shadman Islam failed to grab a chance at first slip.

Rizwan is making Bangladesh pay for the reprieve, having reached 38 off 53 balls and the right-hander is holding down the fort for Pakistan at Lunch alongside Salman Agha (seven).

Bangladesh bowled 26.2 overs in the session, conceding 108 runs for four wickets. Pakistan are now leading by 129 runs.

Rana running through Pakistan middle-order

Nahid Rana is running through the Pakistan middle-order as the pacer has struck three times in his first three overs and reduced Pakistan to 81-6 in the morning session on Day 4 of the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

After removing Shan Masood and Babar Azam in his first two overs, Rana struck again in his third over, inducing a faint outside edge to dismiss Saud Shakeel for 2.

Pakistan are now in all sorts of trouble, leading Bangladesh by 93 runs. Salman Agha has joined Mohammad Rizwan at the middle.

Rana removes Babar as Pakistan lose their fifth

Nahid Rana claimed Babar Azam's wicket for the second time in the series, edging out the right-hander for just 11 as Pakistan lost their third wicket in the morning session and are reduced to 65-5 on Day 4 of the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

Rana extracted some extra bounce from the pitch and seemingly surprised Babar with it, who edged the ball straight to Shadman Islam at second slip.

Earlier, Rana had dismissed Babar in the first innings of the first Test. 

The pacer almost claimed his third wicket of the day in the very next ball, but this time Shadman dropped the chance, giving new batter Mohammad Rizwan a reprieve on 0.

After 19 overs, Pakistan have reached 75-5, leading by 87 runs.

Rana strikes after Taskin 

Nahid Rana struck in his very first over in the second innings, removing skipper Shan Masood for 28 to reduce Pakistan to 62-4 in the morning session on Day 4 of the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

Rana, replacing Taskin, bowled a widish delivery and Shan, who batted with an attacking approach from the get-go, chased after the ball only to edge it straight to the keeper.

His dismissal brought Saud Shakeel to middle. He joins Babar Azam, who is batting on nine. Pakistan are leading by 74 runs.

Taskin gets the first breakthrough on Day 4

Taskin Ahmed gave Bangladesh the first breakthrough of the day, dismissing Saim Ayub for 20 with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto taking a sharp catch as Pakistan are 47-3 in the morning session on Day 4 of the second and final Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium today.

The Bangladesh pacers tested Pakistan's Saim and Shan Masood but couldn't make any inroads in the first half an hour of the day while both batters showed positive intent, hitting boundaries whenever there was an opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Saim, who had three fours, attempted to hit his fourth boundary with a cover drive on the up which Shanto dived to his left to complete a brilliant catch.

The dismissal brought Babar Azam to the middle. He joins skipper Shan, who is batting on 23. Pakistan are leading by 59.